Packaging



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,853

Y M. B. BEHRMAN PACKAGING Filed July 6, 1925 3 Sheets-Shut 1 Nov. 6,1928. I 1390,853

M. B. BEHRMAN.

PACKAGING Filed July 6. 1925 s sheets-sheet 2 anoeutoz w W I Now-6, 1928. 1,690,853

I M. B. BEHRMAN I PACKAGING Filed July 6, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet. 4

Patented-Nona 192 8. Y 5

UNITED s'jraras P ENT oF -Ica.

unions 3. alumina, or new non, or xnw-xonx, x. z, a conrom'rrou or NEWYORK.

" i phoneme, I i

Application aim July 0, 1925. Serial ainism I My presentinvention'relates' generally to improvementsin packaging and involvesthe method and means for securing portions of a package orv containeragainst separation. 5 Merchants who give credit or permit the return ofmerchandise find that they serve losses by 'the surreptitiousremoval ofmerchandise. from the container. Furthermore, it a common practice for aprospective cus- 1 tomer to order up merchandise and after making use ofor otherwise handling the con tents to then return the-merchandise forcredit or exchange, and my invention-has particular utility to preventsuch practices 1 occurring without detection.

i however, extends generally to the field of packages and containers andof maintaining the package or'containers or the container closures inpredetermined condition or posi- 2 tion, and certain phases of myinvention may serve even a broader field of utility.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of anarrangementwhereby a contain'er closure can be associated with thecontainer against accidental removal therefrom and then afiixed theretoso that the closure -member cannot be removed without detection. i 7

A further object of my invention is the 8b provision of a simple andinexpensive means which on the one hand permits of rapidly .fastenin ingof the receptacle or tampering with the 85 contents thereof, and whichtherefore provides a means for detecting the breach'of av specificprovision against such acts imposed by the merchant. s

Containers of the type'in which the be;

elements are in theformof sheets, which are folded to form the box partsare generally rovided with means for maintainin the ox parts in theirshaped or folded condition; .Another object of my invention is the pro-'45 vision of an arrangement for maintainin a box part in its shaped orfolded condition and more particularly, the provision and arrangementfor such purpose of fastening elements which not only maintain such box0' part in such condition, but alsoserve to hold the box partstogether-so as tomaintain the receptac e or contamerm a closed conditionIts utility,

receptacles, containers or the like, and on t e other hand lnsuresagainst openand more the elements of which the parts are formed wherebythe fastening elements can be asso-.

.ciated therewith for such urposes. A stillfurther ob ect p of myinvention is YORK, m 1, assumes. worm: 1.0:: can c0 0.--

particularly the arrangement in theprovision of fastening elements ofsuch .a character that they coact with the box parts not only tomaintain such box parts associated together and where the are either oreach in the form of asheet or blank to be folded to form the box part,to maintain such tpart in its folded condition but also permit 0 theirbeing sealed together "so as to prevent any separation of the parts F1g.2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the securing means;

the lockingelements of Fig. 2; Fi 4 is a sectional view similar to thatof ig. 2, showing the employment of a. modified securing means; I

3 Fig. 5- is an exploded view' of thefasten ing means employed in theembodiment of end of the box of upside down showing the fastening meanslployed atthe bottom; a

the locking elements of Fig. 7 v Y b 9 is a section similar to i .'7'showing 1 e, employment of a modified'form ,of

securing means;

Fig. 10'is an" exploded view o'f the seeuring means of Fig. 49;

11 is an'explqded view ofla f b Fig. 3 is a top elevational-view of oneof ig'.6 is a perspective view of the lower,- ig.- 1 with the box turnedigs. 7 is a section-taken on lin e 7- -7 iof box parts object" of myinvention is ig. 8 is an elevational view of one of.

form of container employing a still further embodiment of my securingmeans;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the box parts of Fig. 11 securedtogether in partially locked association;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 13--13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 shows one of-the fastening elements of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is an exploded view of a modified embodiment of the securingmeans. I

Upon viewing Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawing, it will be observed that Ihave here illustrated my invention as embodied in a box constructionwhich comprises the box body 10, the insertable top closure member 11and the insertable bottom closure member 12 (see Fig. 6). i

As Wlll be understood, in this type of box both the top and the bottomclosure members 11 and 12 are provided with the continuous upstandingflanges 13 and 14 respectively, which are adapted and arranged to bereceived and to fit snugly in the opposite open ends of the box body 10so as to have the upper and lower edges of thewalls 13 and 14 of the topand bottom closures flush with the top and bottom edges of the bodmember 10 respectively, all as shown int e drawing.

The box body 10 is provided at its up er edge with any preferred ordesired num er of horizontally elongated slots or perforations 16 andthe top closure member 11 is similarly provided with a correspondingnumber of horizontally elongated openings or slots 17 preferablyarranged so as to have the two groups of slots brought into registrationwhen the top closure member 11 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the twooups of slots being preferably of the same imensions for obviousreasons.

To hold the to closure member 11 in its position of association with thebox body, I provide the securing means shown more in detail in Figs. 2and 3 of the drawing; these fastening means comprising preferably twoseparate elements or members, to one of which I have applied thereference character 20 and the other 21. p

The fasteningelement 20 shown more in 5 detail on the right in Fig. 5 ispreferably in the form of'a metal stamping made from a single piece ofmaterial and bent intermediate its ends to form the nose 22, the

two legs 23 and 24 first gradually diverging as shown in Fig. 5 and thenrapidly con verging to bring the two into contacting relation as shownat 26 and 27 to form the neck portion, the two superposed elements ofthis neck portion being cut away at their top and bottom as shown at 28and 29, the terminal portions of the fastener being turned at rightangles thereto to form the feet 30 and 31, all as shown in section inFig. 2 and in perspective on' the right of 4 Fig. 5'of the drawings. Thediverging legs 23 and 24 are provided with the openings 32 and 33therethrough, preferably in registry- The other securing elewith eachother. ment or fastener 21 is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and preferablycomprises a sheet of hardened spring metal slitted parallelly andtransversely as shown at 35 and 36 and also longitudinally by aconnecting slit so as to positioned intermediate the upper and loweredges and terminate short of the side edges and that the cut connectingthe two terminates substantially intermediate the ends of the cuts 35and 36. I 7

It will be understood that the registering horizontal slots 16 and 17adjacent the top of the box body 10 and formed in the side wall 13 ofthe top closure 11 are of a horizontal length slightly greater thanthewidth of the legs 23 and 24 of the fastener 20 and are of awidth-slightly less than the distance between theouter side surfaces ofthe legs 23 and 24 at their widest portion, so that while the fastener20 when positioned horizontally can be passed through the registeringslots 16 and17, to do so will require a slight compression anddistortion of the two leg members 23 and 24, and the dimensions of theparts are such that when a fastener 20 has been passed through tworegistering orifices or slots 16 and 17, with the feet 30 and 31 inabutting relation to the inner surface of the upstanding wall 13 of thetop closure member, the leg portions 23 and 24 will have passed fullybeyond the super posed box layer materials; and upon the di-'ver'ging'legs 23 and 24 assuming their normal position, the shoulders 40and 41 thereof formed by the rapid convergence of the edges of the slotso that the fastening ele-' ment 20 will be held in this positionagainst accidental removal which will be its preliminary position ofassociation, it being understood that the box parts will not b drawntightly toward each other.

In the preferred practice of my invention, the len th of the narrovtparts 28 and 29 of the nec correspond to the thickness of the layers ofmaterial, formed at the top by the overlapping of the wall 13 of the topclosure 11 and the body member 10, so that the widened part 26 and 27 ofthe neck portion will also extend beyond the outer surface of the boxbody '10, and in this position the fastening elements'2O can be turnedthrough an, angle of 90 so as'to cause the shoulders portion thefastener.

formed between the neck portions 26, 27, 28

:member ll-recei-ved between the feet 'and 31 and the aforementionedshoulders 'oining the narrow portions 28 and 29 an the widened rtions 26and 27 of the neck In order to lock the headed fastener 20 in thisposition and absolutely prevent its reup rd y 'upwardly and ing meansshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, as follows The opening 45 formed betweenthetwo curved lips 37 and 38 is brought into re 'stry with the nose 22of the fastener 20 ant? is forced thereover, the diverging faces of thele s 23 and 24' forcing these lips outwardlyuntil these lips pass theshoulders and 41 upon which the spring lips 37 and 38"will resumetheirnor- 1nal position in back of these shoulders andthus not only look thefastener 34 (see Fig. 3) closely adjacent the box but also absolutelyprevent the removal of the fastening element 20.

The locking lips 37 and 38 which serve to lock the fastener parts ormembers against separation and removal, are'ex )osed, and for and 41, a

this reason always present t e' possibility that by compressing orotherwise manipulating either the lips or; the shoulders. 40 person maysucceed in removing the locking member 34 and to prevent this,

I show the modified embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 in which I employ amodified form of fastener 34' made of material similar to the fastener34 ofv Fig. 3, androvided with the transverse parallel cuts .35 and 36"and the bent up lips 37 and 38', and in addition pro- Vide this lockingelement 34' with a cover member preferably integral therewith andwhich-is imperforate' except thatit is provided with a central slot oropening 46' ust of a size to permit the legs 23, and 24 of the fasteningmember to pass there'- through and covers the full face of the-lockingmember-34', and in Fig. 4 of the drawing, I show these two members 20and 34' assembled with thebox "elements 10 and 13, and as will beobserved, the cover member 45- will absolutely prevent any manipulationof the lips 37 and 38". and thus prevent any possibility of separatingthe elements 20 In a structure of this character, 1t is freqggntlydesirable that a string be passed a ut the box fora number of reasonsand H to permitof .this, in connection with m fastener, 'I haveprovidedtheflle'gs 23 and 24with the orifices 32 and 3311s alreadyj 1,ee'o,ees iFigs. 1, 2 and-4 of the.

.gether in any "described, and when the elements 20 and 21- seal 49 asshown in thedrawing.

- Upon viewing Fig. 6 of-the'drawing, it

4 "will be here observed that I show the emmo val without detection, Iemploy the lock- 5 ployment of a modified form of fastener for securinthe bottom body closure 12 in position, though as will be understood,

all the forms of the fastener are interchangeistry an'd'the' tubeis-brou'ght adjacent its closed end 53 with any-desired number ofcircumferential depressions or grooves 54 and 5 5, the height offthetubular ortion preferred or desired manner, I as by having 1t associatedwith a locking 7- 52 being such t. at when the tube is associated withthe box ,partsby bein "passed through registering openings aorementioned, the depressions'or "grooves 54 and'55 will project beyondthe outer surface ofthe' box body 10 and in Fig. 8 of the drawing,

I show a form of spring lock 57 for locking this fastener 50 inposition. This spring lock comprises preferably a circular piece ofspring metal slitted radially as shown at 58 so as to provide thetongues 59 which are bent up at their free ends, so that when thismember 57 is forced over the outer end.

or the head of the tube'52, the li s 59 will be flexed outwardlyuntil'when, t ey reach one ofthe grooves or depressions 54,55, they willtend to resume their normal positions and osition themselves in one or.the other of t e grooves 54 or 55, depending uponthe thickness of thematerial of which the box parts are made. rality .of of the mem er 50,provision is ma ation -in' the thickness of the materiali or in thenumber of layers employed."

By using a .plurooves displaced longitudinally i The fastener of thetype as shown in Fig. 8 is open tot-he posslbility of manipulation andfor this fpurpose I show in F igs.-

9 and 10 'another rm of fastener 57, in which, in addition. to all theother elements 58' and 59' present in the fastener Fig. 8,

e for varithere isjprovldeda cover member 6-0 whic'h is imperforateexcept for the opening 61 of a size to permit the head 53 of thefastener 50 to pass therethrough.

In Figs. 11 to 15-of the drawing, I 'show a modified form of box, and inconnection so as to permit the corner portions to told over as shown at62 and 63, thus forming the three superposedlayers at each corner andover which some means must, in practice be provided for retaining-thesesuperposed layers in their superposed position and the box parts intheir set-up position and in accordance with my invention, the meanswhich hold these box: parts in their set up position also serve to. lockthe box parts together against disassociation without detection.

Upon viewing Fi s. 11 and 12 of the drawing, it will be 0 served thatthe blank of the box parts are provided with a number of slots so thatwhen the box parts are set up, the tray will have the superposed layersat the corners each provided with a verticallyelongated slot so arrangedas to have the slots at each corner register and form one continuousslot through the superposed layers and for retaining these layerssuperposed I employ the fastener shown in detail on'the right of Fig.15of the drawing, this fastener 70 difl'ering from the fastener 20 of Fig.5 of the drawmg'in that the side edges of the legs 23 and 24 and of thewidened parts 26 and 27 of the neck are provided withthe one way teeth71. The locking element 72 (see Fig. 14) difiers from the correspondingelement 34 of Fig. 3 in that the slots 7 3 and 74 are arcuately formedso as to provide not only the bent up spring lips 75 and 76 whichcorrespond to the 3'but also the bent up lips 77 and 78 positionedtransversely of the first mentioned lips 7 5 and 76, the purpose ofwhich will shortly be pointed out.

When this locking member 72 is forced over the two legs 23 and 24' ofthe embodiment shown on the right hand of Fig. 14, not only will thelips 7 5 and 76 coact with the diverging-outer surfaces of these legs,and with the shoulders 40 and 41" exactly as the corresponding elementscooperate in Fig.

2. but the transversely extending lips 77 and I 78 will cooperatesimilarly with the teeth 71 so as to provide for a locking associationof the two at any predetermined the two may have been move On the leftin Fig. 15 I show a mod'fied embodiment of the locking member of Fig. 14in which the locking member 72 is pro corresponding lips 37 and 38 ofFig.

point'to which,

vided with the cover member 45" corresponding to and functioning similarto the cover member 45' in the embodiment of Fig.

.5 and also provided with the opening or slot In the practice of myinvention illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, I first insert thefastener on the right of Fig, 15 of the drawing through the registeringopenin sin the superposed layers at each corner 0 the tray body 60 andthen turn these fasteners to a horizontal position, the relativedimensions of the parts being as described in connection with theembodiment of Fig. 1 so that whenturned to its horizontal position asshown at the lowermost corner in the tray of Fig. 11, the fastener 70will be secured in osition.

Upon viewin 11, it will be 0 erved that the registering slots at eachcorner of this box member are horizontal so that assuming the tray tohave been filled with merchandise which it is desired to have receivedtherein, and. the cover member positioned thereon, the fastener 70already associated with the tray 60as dethe cover member 61 of Fig.

illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent'is:

1. In combination with a box part comprising superposed portions, ofmeans for holding said superposed portions in associated relation, saidmeans comprising an element adapted to be passed through the superposedlayers and when rotated with reference thereto, to hold said layersagainst disassociation, and means for locking said mem-. ber againstremoval, said means comprising an abutment on said element and anabutment'member to be irremovably associated with said abutment.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a boxconstruction comprising box parts, one of which has superposed portions,and means for holding. the superposed portions in superposed relat' onand associating together the box parts against disassociation, saidmeans comprising a stud member adapted to bepassed through thebox parthaving superposed portions to hold said superposed portions againstdisassociation when the member is rotated and then adapted to be passedthrough the other box part to hold the latter in associated relation tosaid first :box part, said means compris-- ing a relatively flat memberhaving a narrowed intermediate neck portion and a separate elementapplicable over said stud member to lock the latter against removal.

3. A box construct-ion comprising-embody having a slot in a wallthereof, a closure designed to telescope the body and provided with aslot which registers with said body slot at an angle thereto, arotatable stud having a, wedge-shaped head which is constructed to passthrough each slot when it is aligned therewith but not otherwise, and alocking member having resilient defiectable portions engageable in anirremovable man- -'the stu after passage of the may by such rotation bener over said head and bei g larger than said re istering'slots; wherebyrotation of 15 ad'through the body slot will preliminarily associate thestud with the body, whereby said head brought into proper position forpassage through the closure slot, and whereby application of the lockingmember will thereupon firmly andirremovably secure said closure to saidbody.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification this 1st da ofJuly, 1925.

MARCU B. BEHRMAN.

